I had a post drafted for today, one detailing my excitement over cataract surgery that would be happening and how my restored eyesight would be an answer to my preteen prayer so long ago.
But alas, it was not to be.
On the final pre-op test, my doctor discovered that I have a condition called keratoconus, which is essentially a severe steepening of the cornea. It’s apparently this, more than anything, causing my extremely bad eyesight, which has been worsening. And even if I had my (at this point) small cataracts removed, I’d still need a high prescription of glasses and contacts to see.
To say I was devastated was an understatement. I’ve been imagining life without contacts or glasses for two solid months, not to mention the fact that since my 20s all my ophthalmologists (that would be all 2 of them in that span!), have assured me my vision would be completely corrected with cataract (lens replacement) surgery.
I cried.
A lot.
But I also knew that God was in control. The one small hope my doctor held out to me was a specialist in Dallas who fits contacts for such extreme cases. Fortunately, he had an opening just three days after my disastrous pre-op appointment.
I went into that appointment with very little hope. I mean, what could a new type of contact really do?
Apparently, it can do amazing things!
I learned several things in that appointment.
- Scleral lenses are made to compensate for the irregular cornea shape, rendering my vision clearer than with regular contacts
- They also help with severe dry eyes (which I have!)
- Keratoconus will not lead to blindness (which I’ve always feared!)
- These contacts are deemed medically necessary and in spite of their expensive price tag, our insurance covered them 100% (which was crucial since we are still waiting for insurance to decide if they will pay for the enormous damage to our home!)
Those might not seem like life-changing things to you, but they are to me! He put scleral samples in my eyes and they immediately felt comfortable. Then he did the eye exam with them in. (They weren’t my right prescription at this point because each contact is made to the specifications of the individual eye.) When he did the whole “better one or two” thing, I could see more crisply than I had since I could remember! Not only that, I was also able to clearly read the 20/20 line!
Y’all. I haven’t seen 20/20 even with contacts in years!
He told me these contacts with give me a better quality of life—and even allow me to see to drive at night again.
It was such a turn-around from the appointment days earlier where I’d sobbed in the exam room.
God had a plan all along. It wasn’t the plan I envisioned (ha!)—I will still wear contacts and glasses for the rest of my life—but I will see far better than I’ve seen in years, so I can deal with the contacts.
I’m so, so grateful my ophthalmologist sent me to this specialist. I’m so, so grateful the Lord had a plan to improve my very imperfect vision. It’s a healing through medical innovation, but a healing nonetheless. For I had begun to fear that my days driving and working on my computer were numbered.
How has God shown you clear evidence of His faithfulness lately?
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D’Ann! I’m so glad this story had a much happier ending than I first expected. So very grateful that God led you to the people who could truly help despite the deep disappointment of the initial diagnosis. I am praising the Lord with you and reminding myself for future reference: God doesn’t always work things out the way I want them to go, but I can trust Him to do what is good and best for me. Praise His name!
Yes! I’m so grateful this story didn’t end with just my worsening eyesight! God has been very gracious in this!
God works in amazing ways to turn our darkness into light. He hit me over the head—three times! I have a very thick skull to end my career and free me at last to write. Blessings on your “bad news” and new insight and eyesight.
Glad you finally got the message! I have seen so many times in my life that the Lord has to make things really bad for me to move forward into something else. Happy writing!
Praise the Lord for His goodness. He is so faithful. I always tell my girls, He sees the big picture so He knows what is best for us, even though to us it seems as if He isn’t giving answered prayer. I tell them that the picture we see is the size of a postcard, but the picture He sees is the size of an IMAX screen. So never doubt Him – He always comes through for us, even if it isn’t the way we expected.
I agree! I love that image of a postcard vs an IMAX screen. So true. He always gives us what we need even if it doesn’t happen the way we want.
This post brings me such joy. What we may see as disaster, God knows better. Thanking Him with you over this wonderful news.
Thank you for celebrating God’s goodness with me!
Rejoicing with you, D’Ann.
Thanks, Robin!
Praising God for his tender mercies and unexpected healings. Happy for you, my friend!
Yes, such tender mercies. Especially after the year we’ve had! Thanks for rejoicing with me.
I was blessed by this post, D’Ann! The Lord didn’t answer your prayer in the way you’d expected but He did answer and, in doing so, showed His very personal love and care. I’ve found that He often works the same way in my life. So glad to hear that you can expect better vision with these new specially-made contacts!
Thanks, Becky. We’ve all seen God do such things and yet between we forget and have to remind one another again! 🙂
Wonderful new!!! I’m so happy for you!
Thanks! I still wish it had been accomplished without the need for glasses or contacts, but seeing clearly no matter the method, is better than not!
Praise God! I have some vision problems and have always thought going blind is one of the worst things that could happen. I know there really are worse things! What a miracle for you!
Yes! That’s always been a fear of mine. Probably from reading and watching Little House on the Prairie! I loved that the doctor addressed my fears even before I voiced them. And you are right, there are worse things than that, but still. . . 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your “Good is SO good” story. So happy for you.
Thank you!
I’m so happy they figured out the real problem, even at the “eleventh hour”! My nephew-in-law has the same condition. It was discovered around 8-10 years ago and he has contacts and seems to have no problems whatsoever. Praise the Lord that HE made it right for you! Now you can keep writing, woohoo! Now I pray that your insurance company fulfills its promises to cover your house damage repairs.
Oh, Hilda! That’s such an encouragement to me! Thank you for sharing! And for your prayers!